The most important challenge for postharvest researchers is to slow the processes controlling flower death to enable cut flowers with longest vase life and best quality to reach distant markets. Senescence of carnation is normally characterized by a climacteric-like pattern of ethylene production in which a surge in ethylene production is followed by a decline. Therefore, ethylene sensitivity is an important determinant in flower longevity of carnations. Nevertheless, postharvest losses in this flower result mainly from exposure to unfavourable conditions that accelerate ethylene production or render the flower more sensitive to ethylene, therefore careful postharvest handling is essential to maximise vase life and maintain flower quality. Pre-treatment of carnations with sugars and anti-ethylene agents such silver thiosulfate (STS) and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) result in a desirable increase in postharvest longevity. Floral preservatives that contain a proper amount of sucrose and different anti-ethylene products (inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis or action) not only delay petal senescence and decrease tissues’ sensitivity to ethylene, but also significantly improve qualitative or aesthetic characteristics of cut carnations. As cut flowers are often exposed to ethylene in the post-harvest shipping and marketing environment, it would be useful to develop cultivars that are insensitive or less sensitive to ethylene. Carnations have now been genetically modified through the addition of a mutation of the ethylene binding site which makes them insensitive to ethylene. The breeding of cultivars with genetically superior vase life appears to be a very efficient approach for satisfying the consumer’s quality expectations.
